antidisestablishmentarianism
/ˌæntidiˌsɪstæblɪʃmənˈtɛəriənɪzəm/
noun
Origin
English
establish — to set up or settle
Overview
Meaning Now
- A 19th-century political movement in Britain that opposed the withdrawal of state support from the Church of England.
- Opposition to the disestablishment of the state church.
Literal older meaning
The doctrine of being against the withdrawal of established status.
Language path
Latin → Middle English → English
Earliest form
antidisestablishmentarianism
Earliest period
19th century
Journey
The term emerged in 19th-century Britain during debates over the status of the Church of England, specifically regarding proposals to revoke its status as the official state church in Ireland and England.
Evolution
- Latin
stabilis
“stable, firm”
Root of the legal and institutional base.
- Middle English
establisshen
“to place, set, or ordain”
Borrowed from Old French.
- English, 17th century
establishment
“the state of being established, specifically referring to the state church”
Suffix -ment denotes the act or result.
- English, 19th century
antidisestablishmentarianism
“the movement opposing disestablishment”
Constructed through cumulative suffixation.
Connections
Word parts
anti-
prefix
against
di(s)-
prefix
reversal/apart
establish
root
to set up
-ment
suffix
result of an action
-arian
suffix
adherent of a doctrine
-ism
suffix
belief or system
Related across languages
French
établissement
establishment/institution
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Related to antidisestablishmentarianism
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.